April 23, 2017 AM

Play Nothing greater than that for 3 Days. Jesus was dead. His death was resolved of horrific beatings his body ripped to shreds with a bone and metal laced whip. A spear thrusted into a side his hands and feet stretched out on the cross. More than anything like that every sin ever committed past present future was laid upon him. And he died. But three days later, he came the life full of power and authority and Victory. the Disciples of Jesus his followers quite frankly overwhelmed when they saw Jesus. Resurrected they were trying to figure out what was going on and I'll tell you what if we lived back then 2000 years ago. We would be perplexed to in fact 2,000 years later many of us are still perplexed at the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is a historic fact. See one moment. They were a later. I mean their heart pounding. They were so filled with excitement and then the next moment. They're huddled in a room fearful. Wondering what was going to happen to them another moment. They can't wait to tell other people about what Jesus did victory over the cross and then the next moment. They're filled with doubt.

So they were struggling with this new reality. It was a big change. Let's just be frank change can really challenge us sometimes. So following the week-long Festival of the unleavened bread. Which began with Passover the death of Christ three days later, Jesus rose again. Once the Feast of unleavened bread was over with the disciples made their way back to Galilee.

When we are not sure what to do or what the make of something. Often we go back to our comfort zone, don't we? And for these disciples their comfort zone. What's fishing? And so they got back into the boat. The boat that they left three years before when Jesus called them to be part of his ministry on Earth. Now they're back into the boat Eric Perez several weeks ago gave me a gift. And it was a gift that he made out of driftwood.

Knowing that I like sailing. And he fashion that together right there. That pretty that's awesome.

I would imagine the disciples but was a little bit bigger than this one. and

and they went back to what they knew well and that was to go fishing. In fact Simon Peter one of Jesus's disciples infect the leader of the group. Send to his other friends. I'm going fishin. You know what? They said to them Tim. We're going with you. So they went out got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Sometimes our comfort zone is not so comfortable. Sometimes it doesn't yield the results that we were expecting.

See, they were professionals. They were experts and nothing was working. morning approached and as the disciples began to call it quits. As they were preparing to return to shore there was a man at the shore side and he yelled out to them. Hey, did you catch any fish?

the answer no And then the man said something strange. He wants to cast your net on the right side. And you'll find some. My one that was said one of the disciples. By the name of John realize this was not just some ordinary man. Not some stranger. This was Jesus Christ himself, the Risen Lord and Savior Peter and say hey, that's Jesus. That's the master. And what did Peter do? He jumps out of the boat. He doesn't even wait for the boat to get back to show he jumps out to the book. He swims to shore he wants to be with Jesus.

Not only that. But the disciples caught so much fish that the Nets were beginning to break. Friends, this was a watershed moment for the disciples especially for Peter. Seabolt's were his life his livelihood his comfort zone his security blanket. It was at this moment.

Of this experience that I want to pause the button. I want to stop. And I want to rewind a little bit of the story all the way back. to the early part of Jesus's Ministry Jesus was healing people. He was setting people free from demonic possession. He was causing. people with with with Leprosy to be totally made whole The sick the disease they were recovering crowds were all around Jesus. It was thick with excitement.

Jesus said to his disciples. Let's get into the boat. We need to we need to go on to the other side there. There's more to do there's more Ministry to do it. So the disciples got into the boat the boat that they were familiar the boat of their profession.

and Jesus got into the boat to

and that's they began to go across the Sea of Galilee.

Storm King that's what happens in life. You're going through like you're doing what God tells you to do and the storm comes. And the storm was not no little miniscule little raindrop. This was a huge storm. So much so that the wind and the wave together not that boat all over the place. The boat that they were familiar with the boat, that was there Holt. They began to realize was not going to be able to make it. They were frightened. They were terrified. They were horrified. She they were fishermen and every single one of them on that boat knew somebody that didn't make it because of a storm. And this was one of those storms.

Going to be going to look around and something happened something something in the boat caught their attention. There's Jesus back in the corner over there. And you sound asleep?

Have you ever gone through life and you're going through the storms of life? And you feel that God has fallen asleep.

There is Jesus the same one who brought healing the same one who brought Victory to so many people he is asleep and these disciples are convinced. That they are going to sink to the bottom and they are going to the debt. And they get mad at Jesus. Don't you ever get mad at God? Jesus we're going to sink we're going to die. And you're sleeping, don't you care? Aren't you concerned about our circumstances?

sometimes We can feel overwhelmed. When we feel God. It's not listening.

author Ted Dekker wrote a book called The Forgotten way. And this is how he describes it. Emerges the story with our present circumstances in 2017. but Jesus was at peace

How can he be at rest in the middle of such a terrible threat when you cry out in fear, he rises and he looks out at the storm totally unconcerned. Why are you afraid he asks? Has he gone mad? Does he not see the reason for fear does he not see the cruel husband? the cancer the terrified children the abuse the injustice the empty bank account the rejection at the hands of Friends The Assault of enemies the killing of Innocence. How can Jesus ask that question?

unless PCS

something you don't see

4 Peter and the other disciples the boat was there hope and their security and their safety.

Maybe the boat is your Center of value your center of purpose

and when that's taken away from you.

You see nothing but loss.

But Jesus knew differently.

See the boat represents all that you think will keep you safe from Death by drowning. You clean to your boats. You cling to it? Because you believe that it will save you from suffering. You hold on to it? But see Jesus knew better because only Jesus can save.

Only he can exchange your suffering for peace. Only he can exchange your Hertz for Hope and only he can exchange your discouragements for Joy. Only Jesus the boat won't help you.

So this is what Jesus said in Matthew 8 26 and 27. Why are you afraid? Oh you of little faith. Then Jesus rose and he rebuked the wind and the sea. And there was a great calm. And I'm in Marvel saying what sort of man is this that even the wind's and the Sea obey him?

Because of Jesus's death and Resurrection Peter began to realize that the boat all that. He thought would bring Safety and Security and salvation and purpose and worth was not good enough it never is.

only Jesus

only key can bring purpose and worth and value to our life.

Even with the backdrop of denying Jesus three times even with the failure of leaving Jesus at that low point of arrest and crucifixion. Even when going back to the boat when he couldn't understand the resurrection.

at this point

Peter may be remembered. The same one who calls out the US throw your net to the other side.

He was the same one. That was able to speak to the wind and the wave and the wind and wave obeyed him.

So we jumped out of the boat.

Peter no viewing the resurrected Lord at the seashore she jumps out of the boat no longer will that boat save him no longer. Will he go back to the boat and say, okay. I'm I hope so. I'm no longer Willy go back to the to his comfort zone because he realize that it was Jesus.

that gave him purpose it was Jesus who gave security it was Jesus who gave hope

There's three things thoughts that I want to leave you this morning. About this these two stories.

Why did the disciples go back into the boat after the resurrection and then at the beginning of Jesus ministry? Why did they were terrified when Jesus seemed to see something they didn't?

But when we begin to see how the resurrection of Jesus Christ can overlay in every aspect of our life something begins to change.

First thought I had was that guilt shame disappointment and failure does not need to be the theme of your story. It does not. Listen, every one of us have had our great amazing Crash and Burn experiences.

There are times I try to do my best and then I just don't know what happened.

I don't know what happened. I have my best laid out plans. I know exactly what I'm going to do. And then I just trip all over myself. And it's all too easy because we have such great memories.

the enemy of our heart to to remind us

overpass the guilt the shame the disappointments of failures and if we're not careful, we allowed that to Define us. but when we allow the power of the Resurrection

To infiltrate our every being every aspect of our being then that past never has to be the theme of our story that does not define us anymore. And that leads me to the second thought that I had when I was looking at this truth how the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ revolutionizes Our Life, too. God's Amazing Grace connected with our response of faith will lead toward restoration

God's grace that we sang about this morning.

You're so powerful. It can take your shame and your guilt and all your mistakes and all your Sims. And it not just covers them his grace can wash that stain away. Like it never existed and sometimes we scratch our head but you don't know what I did.

Now I don't. and I don't need to

because when you have asked God by Faith Lord, forgive me. Lord I need you to take away my sin Lord. I did it. I'm not blaming anybody else. I'm not going to blame my circumstances. I'm not going to blame other people. Lord I am going to own up to what I did and God I want to change directions called repentance and when we repent and ask God to forgive us did you know what his words that he said he will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness cleanse.

And when we act in face to the grace of God we are restored. We are restored to right relationship. It's it's like I got a new cell phone this week. I don't have it with me because I was I was so afraid it was going to carry it right into the baptismal tank.

But you know, sometimes I have this incredible ability to mess up anything technological.

And if John Paulson is not around. I'll remember something that I've learned from Mike G and that is go to YouTube.

Or ask Google and maybe there might be a solution and a lot of times like with that cell phone if you really messed it up. If it's just not working right there is a way to press the reset button.

Actually, we have a a theme. I mean Karen Karen David just now that okay. We have a theme here if something does not work. The first step is to turn it off then turn it back on but there's this reset button. When you can retake. Says I got a reset button. I am giving you a reset button and that is when you repaired and when you ask God forgiveness, Kyrie set you I restore you to factory condition. Is that incredible amazing too many of us left in doubt and fear and Shane worried about the win in the way there. She's asleep because Jesus see something so often. We don't he says everything is okay because of God's grace. It's an amazing. Now you might say Pastor you're simplifying to no. I'm not. We we human beings complicate everything we have this incredible means of messing it all up. But God has this incredible ability to bring restoration and cleaning sub. incredible that leads to my final fight.

Restoration in Christ enables us to let go of our past and embrace our destiny.

God can can rescue us man. I'll tell you what awful things have happened. What are family we like history? We read about history all the time. I don't know how who brought this up Angela this past week, but we were we were reading about the Trail of Tears. About the Cherokee Nation, but there were other nations involved with the Trail of Tears the where where where was it you Ethan? Emerald where where they were forcibly removed from their land that they lived in not just all their life, but all their ancestors wise I mean and they they got to move to Oklahoma and other places many died think I think five thousand four thousand dollars is one of the numbers one of my family members. What's what's in that and I

When I look at that slavery. In the history of our country off.

David Mack invited McDavid. I'll tell you what that was such an incredible experience for me. I mean probably more so for me than anybody else in the room, but he invited me to go to this event downtown about about Prejudice and racism in all the isms. And we watch this old movie, but man it is just shockingly powerful. Of how in our fear we have hurt and Moline people so much.

MN so often we can look at that horrible past and say what what's you say I am tired of of it. I I defined by everybody is a loser. I undefined that everybody that I can't do anything and so often we wallow in this and I'll tell you what stop listening to those kind of people you start listening to the one who said you I love you so much. I gave my my son's life for you. I ice rescue you out of the pit of darkness and I have brought you into the wonderful life of of walking in the truth of knowing there's a God in heaven who values you and will never leave you or forsake you

So what do we do when we realize that God has done something and maybe we don't see it all the time, but we start trusting in the one who's asleep in the boat because he knows something that's so often. We do not know that the one who seems like everything is okay really knows that everything is indeed. Okay.

So what do we do? We do what Paul did in Philippians chapter 3? He says in verse 14. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus. That's what I do. I am not going to look at the wind and the wave anymore. I am not going to look at how people have said things to me or done things to me how people might have let me down or people might have have have have malign my character or all of those kind of stuff. That seems the flood us so often I am not defined by that anymore. I'm the fine by the resurrected Jesus Christ who save me and redeemed me he is giving me eternal life one of these days. I'm going to be called home. I'm going to be in his presence. I'm going to know who he looks like because I'm going to see the nail star card hands and I'm going to Bow before him and I'm going to worship him and I'm going to be a just a mess of emotion. He's going to pick me up. He's going to dry all my tears and he is going to say it. Is it is it is well it is. Well, everything's going to be okay. You never have to worry about a thing ever again. You don't have to be afraid of anything. You don't have to feel Why people are putting you down anymore because I will never put you down. I will never make you shamed. I will help you. I will uphold you. Just hold on to my righteous right hand God says and it's going to be good. See Jesus sees it's going to be good. You know what that's who I want to trust. What's power outs? Father in heaven

Lord I know that by personal experience that shame and disappointment and failure Can be like a chain that just seems like it can't be broken.

Where I'm held down filled with fear. wondering when the envelope

the god I pray

Oswald that we will not live in this way anymore, but we will live understanding that the resurrected Lord has brought Resurrection to me Believe and trust in you and we do not need to live in fear anymore. We do not need to be defined by everybody else anymore.

As we are restore we can live in the confidence that we have a purpose just like Peter realized as soon as he got out of the boat.

Going to realize his purpose. He answered your call. He didn't wipe your waist and nothing but nothing can bring peace like that. The Lord search the heart this morning.

Lorde what's what's in our life today? That's holding us back cheating with down.

God I pray that will set us free. With every head bowed every eye closed no one looking around. I want to ask you a question simple question. And that is do you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Have you received his grace and forgiveness of sin?

Are you a child of God? Not buy anything you've done but you acknowledge that would Jesus died. He died for you and your son. When he rose again defeating hell death and the grave he he rescued you too.

And he's redeemed you and and you are restored to Pastor. My trust engine is in Jesus Christ Alone. Maybe you could say that no doubt in your mind. But maybe there are those of you in this room that you said Castor, you know, I've not been trusting God lately. I've not been living for him. In fact, if I should die today, I don't know if I would go to heaven.

I've been estranged from God lately. And I need God to rescue me. I need to finally get out of the boat today. I need to get out of the boat. I need I need to set aside everything that brings value to me, and I need to bring I need to get my value from Jesus Christ. You said pastor? I need God to rescue me. And set me free. Pastor would you remember me in your prayers? And if that's you I would like you to raise your hand long enough for me to see it. Yes. Any other hands? Yes. I see that hand. Yes, I see that. and the other animals

Let's Stand Together. I want to invite the proteins to make their way forward right now.